Digital Rights Management's Ability to Control

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is the ability for publishers, copyright owners and individuals with rights to digital content to limit what individuals can do with their media after purchase.  This ability affects the computer game, e-book, film and music industry the most.  An example of this is when you rent a movie off iTunes.  Once you watch it once, you can no longer view the movie unless you purchase it or rent it again.  DRM is thought to be necessary by artists and publishers because it enables them to fight digital piracy and protect their content from being misused. 

DRM Functions and Abilities

DRM can be any type of technology that puts some type of control over the media that is sold by its producer and rights holder.  They have the ability to put restrictions on their product that limit the ability of what the consumer can do with their product.  Anything from not being able to copy a DVD that you bought onto an Ipod, to not being able to read an e-book you bought on Amazon on another application counts as DRM.  These restrictions protect the producers of the digital content from having their material taken advantage of. 

DRM is Agitating for Consumers

DRM for the most part is a hassle for consumers, preventing many legal functions of digital property such as backing up CD’s on your own personal computer. These agitations have lead to many campaigns against DRM such as Defective by Design.  For me personally, on iTunes, I have had my 5 allowed devices used up on my iTunes account.  This makes it impossible to put my already purchased songs on my new iPhone which is driving me nuts!  If one account can only be allowed on 5 devices, then it can only last so long.  People change phones, iPods, and other devices all the time! If I bought the song, I believe that I have the right to put it on all the devices that I am currently using.  DRM in many cases is seen as a way for corporations to keep steady revenue for their products which is true, but it just pushes consumers to download illegally to bypass the hassle of dealing with these controls.